The Weight

The latest research about youth ministry and its actual effect on the lives and faith of young people can seem disheartening, and the data tells us that something has to change. Kenda Creasy Dean, the Mary D. Synnott Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary and an ordained United Methodist pastor in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference, has a few ideas on what we can learn and what we should remember about our Christian roots: that the Church itself started as a social innovation movement. In addition to teaching in practical theology, education, and formation (specifically youth and young adult ministry, Christian social innovation, and theories of teaching), Dean works closely with Princeton’s Institute for Youth Ministry and the Farminary. Dean is the author of numerous books on youth, church, and culture, the best known of which include Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers Is Telling the American Church (Oxford, 2010), Practicing Passion: Youth and the Quest for a Passionate Church (Eerdmans, 2004), and The Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul Tending for Youth Ministry with Ron Foster (Upper Room, 1998).She has directed numerous grants on youth, innovation, and the church, including The Zoe Project (2017-2021), and was co-director with Harold Masback of The Joy and Adolescent Faith and Flourishing Project through Yale’s Center for Faith and Culture. In 2013, she co-founded Ministry Incubators, Inc., an educational and consulting group that supports Christian social innovation and entrepreneurial ministries. A graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary, she served as a pastor in Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey and as a campus minister in suburban Washington, D.C. before receiving her PhD from Princeton Seminary in 1997.Resources: Princeton Seminaryhttps://www.ptsem.edu/people/kenda-creasy-deanMinistry Incubatorshttps://ministryincubators.com/about/who-are-we/kenda-dean/instagram.com/mincubatorsZoe Projecthttps://zoeproject.ptsem.edu/Fuller StudioRe-imagining Church as a Missional Incubatorhttps://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/re-imagining-church-as-a-missional-incubator-kenda-creasy-dean/

Becca Stevens is a speaker, social entrepreneur, author, priest, founder, and President of Thistle Farms. She has been featured on PBS NewsHour, The Today Show, CNN, ABC World News, named a CNN Hero, and White House Champion of Change. Becca founded Thistle Farms in 1997 with a single home for survivors of trafficking and addiction.In this episode, Chris and Eddie sit down to talk with Becca about her work as an advocate for women--standing alongside women and helping them pull themselves, and by extension their communities, out of a history of trauma and poverty and into a life thriving with healing, hope, and often tea.In her latest book (and her favorite book to date), Practically Divine, Becca invites us to see the divine in everyday, ordinary experiences and to find the potential for humor, wonder, and freedom by embracing our creativity and creating something from nothing. She threads wisdom from her mother into stories and poems to help us live a life that is practically divine.Resources:Learn more about Thistle Farms.Order Practically Divine.Watch Becca Stevens preach at Oxford University United Methodist Church.Find out more about Becca.Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

That's a wrap!Season 2 of The Weight is now finished. With this last episode, Chris and Eddie take some time to reflect back on this second season. All the wonderful guests. All the inspiring, heavy, important topics:  mental health, racism, art and culture, creation care, faith and politics, human sexuality. Don't skip out on this episode though. We think you might be inspired to go back check out some previous episodes. And, surprisingly, Chris and Eddie actually have a few nuggets of wisdom to share themselves. 😂To our guests, thank you! To our listeners, thank you!We're already busy making plans and recording episodes for Season 3 of The Weight. See you soon!

Editorial cartoonist Marshall Ramsey has been involved in the journalistic life of Mississippi for quarter of a century. Ramsey’s cartoons have served as cultural artifacts for both local and national events such as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. In his personal life, Ramsey’s spirit of empathy and resilience has given him a unique sense of sensitivity to the world around him. He joins Eddie and Chris to talk about the cultural impact of Ted Lasso, the power of reframing our stories, and how our relationships keep us grounded.Follow Marshall Ramsey on the web:http://marshallramsey.comCheck out Marshall Ramsey's cartoons here:https://mississippitoday.org/cartoons/Now You're Talking with Marshall Ramsey Radio ShowMississippi Stories with Marshall Ramsey PodcastFollow Marshall Ramsey on social media:https://www.facebook.com/marshall.ramseyhttps://www.instagram.com/marshallramsey/https://twitter.com/MarshallRamsey

We live in a reactive, anxious culture both in person and online. When we hold onto pride, we are resistant to change and resistant to vulnerability. Though God understands the reasons we’re angry and the frustrations we deal with, God has a merciful heart towards the offender and the offended. How can we offer a gracious public witness as Christians in the midst of all of this polarization? Why do we resist the act of peacemaking as demonstrated by Jesus?Chris and Eddie are joined by Ashley Abercrombie, author of Love is the Resistance. In this book, Abercrombie describes love as a habit and practice, not just a feeling. Bent toward compassion and deep hope, she teaches us what healthy, normal conflict looks like in a Christian community. They talk about the danger of echo chambers, the definition of what love is and what love is not, and the power of expanding our imagination as an inspiration to hope.Order Love is the Resistance here:https://www.ashabercrombie.org/book Listen to our other episode with Ashley Abercrombie here:The Weight - Ashley Abercrombie - From Womb to TombCheck out Ashley’s podcast “Why Tho” here:https://www.ashabercrombie.org/podcast Follow Ashley Abercrombie on social media:https://www.facebook.com/ashleyabercrombienychttps://www.instagram.com/ashabercrombie/https://twitter.com/ashabercrombie

Whether we’re a teenager, college student, established professional, or retired, we’re constantly asking questions about our identity. All of us deeply desire to understand the truth of who we are and where we come from. For those of us in strained relationships with our families of origin, questions of identity, purpose, and belonging can get increasingly complicated. What does it take to tell a truthful story about our lives? Where does God meet us in our fractured, imperfect stories? In this episode, Chris and Eddie are joined by David Magee, author of Dear William: A Father's Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love, and Loss. Dedicated to his late son, William Magee, Dear William details David’s pain of losing a child, destructive family patterns, and the grace of God in the midst of intense tragedy. He talks to Eddie and Chris about the freedom found in forgiving ourselves, the issue of codependency within a family system, and the power of testimony.Dear William: A Father’s Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love, and LossFollow David Magee on the web:https://www.daviddmagee.com Learn more about the William Magee Center for Wellness Education here:https://magee-center.olemiss.edu Give to the William Magee Center here:https://ignite.olemiss.edu/project/16124/donate Follow David Magee on social media:https://www.facebook.com/davidmageeauthor https://www.instagram.com/davidmageewriter/ https://twitter.com/dmagee_writer 

The sobering thought of death stirs up tension and uncertainty within our souls. Oftentimes, we see life and death as two separate events, but our living and dying are intrinsically linked. In order to flourish as humans, we must lean into the God-given virtues that inform our perspective on a life well-lived and move beyond viewing death as defeat. Jesus exhibited this in His human life on earth, teaching us the importance of trusting God in the face of life’s greatest uncertainty. How do we talk about death in a way that isn’t demeaning to the end? How can we accept our limitations in humility and surrender?Chris and Eddie are joined by Dr. Matthew Levering, author of Dying and the Virtues. In this book, Levering articulates the nine virtues that we need to die (and live) well: love, hope, faith, penitence, gratitude, solidarity, humility, surrender, and courage. Drawing upon his unique experience of faith, Levering explores how the reality of death draws us nearer to God in dependence and trust. He talks to Eddie and Chris about the significance of rituals within the Christian tradition, living a life of praise to God, and what the book of Job teaches us about our humanity.Dying and the Virtues by Matthew LeveringThe Spiritual Benefits of Dying: Review of Dying and the Virtues by The Gospel Coalition

The Gospel is a claim about who God is and what God is up to. The Church’s role in embodying the Gospel means that we meet each other in community. Intergenerational community is one of the vital aspects of a healthy church environment. What does it mean to be part of a “church family?” How can the Church serve each generation within its community, bringing people together in unity?Chris and Eddie are joined by Reverend Dr. Will Willimon, Professor of the Practice of Christian Ministry at Duke Divinity School and former Bishop of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church. Willimon’s experience as a professor has informed his perspective on the ongoing vocational questions we ask at many different stages of life. They talk about cultural idols, what the Gospel looks like in a college or university setting, and the problems and pressures that American Christianity faces.Follow Will Willimon on the web:https://willwillimon.comAging: Growing Old in the Church by Will WillimonCheck out Will Willimon’s other books and publications here:https://willwillimon.com/writing/ Stanley Hauerwas and Will Willimon on the dangers of providing pastoral care Follow Will Willimon on social media:https://www.facebook.com/WillWillimonhttps://twitter.com/willimontweets 

Sometimes the tendency to preserve our image gets in the way of the type of raw, messy love that Jesus exhibited. Within the Church and Christian spaces, we place limits on our language out of fear, ignoring the painful realities of the people in the pews in favor of comfort and harmony. We get scared to open ourselves up to that pain and the reality of temptation within each one of us. When we open a door to embrace others despite our differences, and when we use our language to get into the depths of human experiences, we learn to love better. We learn to love more like Jesus.Chris and Eddie are joined by Adam Weber, pastor of Embrace Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Adam’s most recent book, Love Has A Name, details the kind of healing love that draws people closer to Jesus and the true heart of the Gospel. His experience as a pastor has been greatly enriched by the work of ministry that happens right on his front porch. He talks to Chris and Eddie about his passion for mental health awareness, the problems and questions from people outside of the church, and how to use language to build empathy and trust.Follow Adam Weber on the web:http://adamweber.com The Conversation with Adam Weber on Apple PodcastsThe Conversation with Adam Weber on SpotifyLearn more about Adam’s book Love Has A Name here:http://adamweber.com/book/ Follow Adam Weber on social media:https://www.facebook.com/adamaustinweberhttps://www.instagram.com/adamaweber/https://twitter.com/adamweber 

When we’re struck by unexpected suffering, we ask question after question attempting to find meaning in the midst of our pain. We wonder why this diagnosis, disaster, or death had to happen to us or someone we love. We wonder if God is really good. We wonder if it’s possible to live within our reality and still have hope, joy, and peace. Though these questions are important, our human nature lends itself toward the comfort of ignorance and flimsy optimism. What are the cultural scripts that dictate our understanding of pain and suffering?  How can we come alongside one another through both the highs and lows? Chris and Eddie are joined by Kate Bowler, author of No Cure for Being Human, professor at Duke Divinity School and host of the podcast, Everything Happens. After receiving an unexpected cancer diagnosis at the age of 35, Kate began to observe that the world does not offer a safe space for people in pain. Her move from crisis to chronic has led her to asking deeper questions about faith, God, and human suffering. She talks to Eddie and Chris about the gift of presence, the absurdity of life, a robustly Christian account of time, and the many ways we try to make meaning out of everything.Follow Kate Bowler on the web:https://katebowler.com Order No Cure for Being Human here:https://katebowler.com/no-cure-for-being-human/ Order Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved here:https://katebowler.com/everything-happens-for-a-reason-2/ Listen to Kate Bowler’s podcast Everything Happens here:https://katebowler.com/podcasts/ Follow Kate Bowler on social media:https://www.facebook.com/katecbowler https://www.instagram.com/katecbowler/ https://twitter.com/katecbowler Kate Bowler on YouTubeKate Bowler on Goodreads